Northern California CCDS

Latin American Models, Summer 2010

by Mel Martynn
 
     Now that I've got your attention....  The best of the Latin American government models are on display this very summer.  Director Oliver Stone's new documentary film "South of the Border" brings us a lot of easy-to-understand information about what's currently going on down there. Bring your middle-of-the road family and friends to this plain vanilla but entertaining presentation about an amazing progressive bloc and what socialist actions in the concrete look like in South America. The film opens with a lengthy section on Venezuela, and its president, Hugo Chavez. There are good sections about prior U.S. involvement and Chavez' subsequent rise to being elected president, and his care and concerns about uniting all of South America like early liberator Simon Bolivar envisioned.  Other countries covered include Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Cuba.  Although sometimes it's a bit too much of  "talking heads,"  (each country leader is formally interviewed), "South of the Border" de-demonizes this leadership and what is happening there, and more importantly, brings to public attention the

Disability Rights Activists to Re-establish 'Arnieville'

June 22, 2010
by Jonathan Nack

OAKLAND – Disability rights activists are set to re-establish the “Arnieville” tent city in Berkeley today. The encampment is in opposition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts to In-Home Support Services (IHSS) in California, which the activist consider inhumane, illegal, and financially stupid. [ See June 6 IndyBay article ]

“We're totally fed up”, said Jean Stewart, one of the organizers, who is herself an IHSS recipient. “Every year the budget puts us through sheer hell – we face the terror that we could lose our services,” explained Stewart.

IHSS provides services to people in their homes who might otherwise probability have to be institutionalized.

Picket Port of Oakland, this Sunday, June 20

URGENT!

Dear members and friends,

This SUNDAY we have an historic opportunity to take an important stand to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza and for the rights of Palestinians. 

A Picket has been called against an Israeli ship at the Port of Oakland for very early Sunday morning.  With solidarity from the workers of ILWU Local 10, this could be the first time an Israeli vessel has been successfully boycotted in the U.S.

The CCDS Northern California Coordinating Committee has voted unanimously to endorse this unprecedented protest and calls on all members and friends to join, publicize and promote the action.

More than a hundred people attended an organizing meeting on Wednesday night in S.F.  Militants from Local 10 were in attendance, as were two brave activists who were on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.  Spirits were very high and there is a lot of optimism for a successful action.  There is a large coalition organizing the picket with significant labor support.  Local 10 and the San Francisco and Alameda County Central Labor Councils have already condemned Israel's seizing of the Freedom Flotilla and the outrageous killing of unarmed civilian solidarity activists.

It was recalled at the meeting that the successful pickets and boycotts of South African ships in 1984 in S. F. played a critical and catalytic role in the international movement to end legal Apartheid.  Once again the Bay Area can play a leading role in a key global struggle for social justice and human rights.

TIME: 5:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Sunday, June 20, 2010

Location: Port of Oakland, Berth 57, Middle Harbor Rd

For list of sponsors and additional information:
www.answersf.org and www.transportworkers.org.

Come out to the Port of Oakland this Sunday!  Inform and mobilize your networks!

Lift the Blockade Now - Let Gaza Live!

In solidarity,

Jonathan Nack, Ellen Schwartz, and Steve Willett, for the Northern California Coordinating Committee

Image: Gaza Border sign, thanks to Sacramento Area Peace Action and Because People Matter, July-August 2006

June 8 Primary: Ballot Proposition Recommendations

The Northern California CCDS Coordinating Comittee has taken the following positions on propositions on the June 8, 2010 Primary ballot (the descriptions are the official titles of the propositions, which are sometimes misleading).  The post below this shows CCDS members who are running for office and will appear on the June Primary ballots.  

Prop 13: Limits on Property Tax Assessment. Seismic Retrofitting of Existing Buildings. No POSITION

Prop 14: Elections. Increases Right to Participate in Primary Elections. – VOTE NO. This measure would virtually eliminate the third parties, and even weakens the Democrat and Republican parties, as elections become more “candidate-driven.”

Prop 15: California Fair Elections Act. – VOTE YES with reservations.  This is a pilot program for public funding of Secretary of State candidates in 2014 and 2018. There is a conflict in wording with Prop 14. If Prop 15 passes with a higher majority, it may cause Prop 14 to be nullified, which would be a desirable outcome. But Prop 15 itself is deeply flawed in giving Democrats & Republicans more money than the other party candidates: how much money is based on what party you belong to. The four smaller parties have to fulfill the same qualifications, but get half the money. If they raise ½ the signatures and contributions as the two larger parties, they get ¼ the funding. We are in favor of completely publically funded elections, including equal funding for third parties. Prop 15 would end the existing ban on public funding and potentially open the way for fuller access. 

Prop 16: Imposes New Two-Thirds Voter Approval Requirement for Local Public Electricity Providers. VOTE NO. This proposition would require a 2/3 vote for a local public electric utility to be established.  Requiring a two-thirds vote of approval would make it nearly impossible to create new public utilities. 

Prop 17: Allows Auto Insurance Companies to Base Their Prices in Part on a Driver's History of Insurance Coverage. VOTE NO. This proposition would permit insurance companies to impose a surcharge for people with gaps in coverage even if they hadn’t been driving (e.g., because of illness, military service). 

June 8 Primary: Candidates

We are not making endorsements for these (or other) statewide races; past experience shows that our members want to make up their own minds. But to help you evaluate the candidates, we want to let you know of several of our members who are running for office in the June Primary. If there are other CCDS members who are running for office in California, please let us know!

C.T. Weber, CCDS Northern California Coordinating Committee member is running for Lt. Governor on the Peace & Freedom Party ticket.

Former member William Balderston is running for state Insurance Commissioner on the Green Party ticket.  Bill wrote an article for our newsletter last September on the state budget, "The Budget's In, Our Needs Are Out."

Protest on International Workers' Day--San Francisco

Full Rights for Undocumented Workers--Legalization/Amnesty for All!

Money for Jobs and Education, Not War and Occupation--Jobs for All!

No Budget Cuts or Fee Hikes--Tax the Rich and Corporations!

March and Rally

Saturday, May 1, 12 Noon

March assembles at 24th and Mission Streets, San Francisco

sponsored by the May Day 2010 Coalition (of which the ANSWER Coalition is a member)

This Thursday, March 4 -- Day of Action to Defend Public Education

A Day of Action to Defend Public Education: Events planned in the Bay Area and Sacramento.   

More information: http://defendcapubliceducation.wordpress.com/school-reports/

Events planned Thursday in the Bay Area and Sacramento:

Sacramento

-- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: State Capitol rally on the north steps. The purpose is to feature lessons on California's public education system, focusing on history, political science and economics. Speakers include Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, and UC Berkeley Professor George Lakoff.
   -- Two-minute testimonials from faculty, alumni and public college students will follow.

San Francisco

  -- Daylong: San Francisco public schools will host teach-ins, marches, rallies and letter writing starting at 7 a.m. Many will host rallies and marches, including El Dorado Elementary from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; George Washington High from 11:20 a.m. to noon; Feinstein Elementary at 1 p.m.; and Miraloma Elementary at 2:15 p.m.
   -- 7 a.m.: San Francisco State University campus action.
   -- 3 p.m.: March from 24th and Mission streets to Civic Center.
   -- 4 p.m.: March to State Building on McAllister Street.
   -- 5 p.m.: "Rally for Our Future" at Civic Center, with speakers and performances. Oakland
   -- Daylong: Oakland public schools will offer activities highlighting the impact of school funding cuts. Activities include leafleting and picketing before class.
   -- 11 a.m.: Laney College rally, followed by march (via Fruitvale BART) to Oakland City Hall.
   -- Noon-4 p.m.: Rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza (in front of Oakland City Hall, 14th and Broadway).
   -- 4 p.m.: Oakland school officials hold press conference at 1515 Clay St.

UC Berkeley

   -- 7 a.m.-noon: Pickets on campus.
   -- Noon-1 p.m.: UC Berkeley rally at Bancroft and Telegraph, followed by a march to Oakland City Hall. Cal State East Bay, Hayward
   -- Noon: Rally, walkout and open mike/speak out at Agora Stage at noon; delivery of student demands to campus president.

California Maritime Academy, Vallejo

   -- Noon: Street Theatre/Mock Die-In at Maritime's main quad.

San Jose State

  -- 11 a.m.: March from San Jose City Hall to San Jose State Tower Lawn.
   -- Noon: Keep the Doors Open rally at San Jose State Tower Lawn Sonoma State
   -- 11:30 a.m.: Student walkout
   -- Noon-1:30 p.m.: Rally near Stevenson Quad

East Bay/Oakland Regional Rally

• 12 pm-4 pm Rally @ Frank Ogawa Plaza (in front of Oakland City Hall, 14th & Broadway)

• March to the Ogawa Plaza Rally from:
-UC Berkeley:
• 7 am-12 pm Pickets
• 12 pm-1 pm Rally/Action @ entrance to Sproul Plaza (Telegraph & Bancroft)
• 1 pm-3 pm March from UC Berkeley to Oakland’s Ogawa Plaza

-Laney College: 11 am Rally, march to downtown Oakland @ 1 p.m.

-Fruitvale BART: Assemble @ 11 am, march to downtown Oakland @ 11:30 am
 

Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century

Alcohol can be a Gas

by David Blume

(On Feb 27, 2010 the Contra Costa County Chapter of CCDS will show a DVD interview with author David Blume. See announcement in sidebar.)

www.alcolholcanbeagas.com
A LITTLE HISTORY
 
In 1983, David Blume wrote and hosted a 10-part how-to television series called Alcohol as Fuel for KQED, the San Francisco PBS affiliate. He also wrote the definitive how-to book on ethanol, Alcohol Can Be A Gas!, which was going to be sold on the air.
The book was at the printer preparing to go to press, and the first airing of the television series in San Francisco was underway, to be followed by release to 140 PBS stations nationwide. Big Oil got wind of the project and convinced KQED to halt the printing and cancel the release of the series to the rest of PBS.

Although there were lawsuits, KQED's oil-funded lawyers crushed Blume, and the series ended up locked in KQED's vault, while the rights to the book went back to Blume. The book sat on the shelf for the past 20 years.

What's So Wrong With Socialism?

By Orval Strong

The main scare tactic used by El- Rushbo and his brainless cronies on the talk radio circuit is to brand anything they don’t like or disagree with as socialistic. As if to say that if you have anything to do with socialism, you are dangerous. They haven’t a clue of what real socialism is. To them Joseph Stalin was the epitome of a socialist.

A Legend in Her Own Time

An interview with Wilhelmina Trout, South African trade union activist

During their 2009 tour of southern Africa, members of the Vukani Mawethu Choir had an opportunity to meet with trade union activist Wilhelmina Trout. Trout has a long history of activism in the South American labor movement, from the early years under apartheid to the formation of Africa’s largest labor federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). She also served as coordinator for the Gender and Trade Union Education Project, at the Institute of Development and Labor Law at the University of Cape Town, Now retired, she works closely with the South African Service and Allied Workers Union, the Self Employed Women’s Union and the Sexual Harassment Education Project.